Ramblers Gems a Spring Vale Rambling Class Publication
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Ramblers Gems A Spring Vale Rambling Class Publication Volume 1 Issue 4 29th May 2020 For further information or to submit a contribution email: [email protected] ` creditable feature was that during the whole of I N S I D E T H I S I SSUE those twenty years he had not heard a single instance of uncouth word, of bickering and strife 1 Our Early Years or anything to mar the brotherly aspect of the parties. 2 Old tracks and byways 3 Old tracks and Byways continued In the early years the Class did not publish a Syllabus, but arranged the rambles as the season 4 An Evening Walk progressed. As the numbers increased it was 5 Lancashire Village Anagram decided to publish the list of walks in the style of a small folding card, this also served as the The Written Stone membership card and cost the holder the sum of two pence, old money (equivalent to less than 1 Our Early Years pence today). Later on the card was enlarged into The 23rd May 1896 was the first official ramble booklet form and gave valuable information on train and tram times, as well as the details for the of the Class. The initial walk was from Spring Vale via the top of Sough tunnel, Grimehills forthcoming walks. The price was increased to Church and Wayho Fold returning by Yarsdale, sixpence (2.5 pence) and was a credential of Bent Hall and the Sough, a distance of 10.75 membership. In the early days membership miles. The original format during the walk was to allowed each Rambler to bring one lady friend with him on Rambles open to Ladies. A rule not gather specimens on the Saturday and then to met once or twice in Spring Vale School during the applied today as everyone is welcome. following week to talk about their discoveries and put to practical use the findings of the previous Saturday’s walk. Photographs would be taken of the various places visited and a Limelight Lantern was used to reproduce those pleasant summer outings during the winter evenings. Both old and young joined the Class and as time went on they included anyone interested in the work they were engaged in. It is recorded that in 1919 and twenty years since the formation of the Class Mr Jonathan Fielding the Secretary and leader of the Class had only missed seven of the organised walks. He also reported that a pleasant and Ramblers Gems 1 Discovering old tracks and byways. This is a linear walk that I enjoy and starts from the top end of the moorland village of Belthorn. I usually get dropped off in the village. If you live in or near Darwen this walk can be modified at several points to take you home. Walk up through the village passing the Dog Inn Shaw’s Office Block 1927 on the right until you reach the bus shelter and turn down Bank Fold Lane . It is from this point that We now cross the road to travel along the you get good views looking down over Lower bridleway passing Shaws of Darwen on the right, Hoddlesden, Waterside and Eccleshill. In the far with its white office building constructed in 1927. The works, originally Shaw Glazed Tile distance are Hoghton Towers and the River Ribble estuary. Descend the lane, which winds between Company, was founded by Arthur Gerald Shaw several properties at Bank Fold to arrive at a T- way back in 1897, using the local clay brought by junction where you turn right. In the past many of horse and cart from the local coal mine, Belthorn the properties in this area would contain a hand Colliery. The bridleway, passing Higher loom for weaving cloth, and this is evident by the Waterside Farm one of the oldest buildings in the window structure built to allow the maximum light area, climbs steadily towards Roman Road and into the houses. The route has become rougher the TV repeater towers on the ridge. Crossing underfoot but still is very good for walking. over the road and onto the path at the left hand Continue down this track passing a small reservoir, side of the tower, we walk down one field to run by United Utilities on your left. Our route now reach the ruins of Princess Farm, before turning takes us to the right, by the side of Waterside right. Follow a well worn path across the area Brook and after about a mile, Victoria Buildings at known locally as “Baileys Field” to emerge Waterside are reached. The old Co-Op building between houses onto Hawthorne Avenue. The sits on the corner. way continues straight on and at the end of this road, turn left onto Holden Fold and Moor Lane and continue on keeping a look out for the small lay-by and widening grass verge on the right hand side. Take a footpath up the steps, between houses No. 35 & 37. The route in the next section of the walk is all on permissive paths. This path leads along by the Square Meadow recreation field. Turn left at the kissing gate, and then walk around the football field to pass in front of the pavilion and out by the second metal kissing gate ahead. The route now goes straight ahead crossing a large field and into a second field bearing to the right to a 5-bar gate. You now Old Co-op Building Waterside are entering Polyphemus Wood, planted by The Woodland Trust in 2005 to mark the bicentenary Continues below on page 3 Ramblers Gems 2 Continues from page 2 above of the Battle of Trafalgar and is named after one of Follow the brook on your left to a stile and then the ships in Admiral Nelson’s fleet. This broadleaf climb the 26 steps which take you up to Roman woodland is planted with 15,000 trees includes oak, Road at Davy Field Brew. Turning left and going ash, alder, birch, rowan, hazel, hawthorn and holly. under the motorway brings you to Davyfield If you turn left at this point it brings you to Knowl Business Park and Blackamoor and onto Lower Lane and the Chapels Area, where there are various Darwen. routes back down into Darwen. The total walking distance for my route from Belthorn is about 5 miles. The distance to the TV repeater mast at Sett End is about 2 miles and to Chapels 3.5 miles. The walk offers plenty of opportunity for splendid view across the Hoddlesden and Darwen valleys with several ups and downs to negotiate along the way together with lots of interesting and informative local history. Alan R My intended route is to turn right at this footpaths junction and for the rest of this walk it takes you away from Darwen and heads off towards Eccleshill and onto the Davy Field area. The route now traverses along the broad well used path around the edge and through the wood, until you are above Manor House Farm, don’t climb the stile but continue around the edge of the wood. After approx 200 metres search carefully on your right for a stile, that will allow you to cross the trackbed of the old railway line to Hoddlesden. On the other side of the rail track climb a second stile into the field and turn immediately left to follow around the top edge of this field. Follow this wall until you can see a stile in the next field. Turn left immediately after the stile and follow the beaten track through the woodland to descend to Davyfield Brook. The ground in this area is littered with iron slag from the old iron works. This site Local Views along the Walk formally known as Darwen Iron Company was erected in 1870, adjoined the railway at There is not in the wide world, a valley so sweet, Goosehouse and had its own large sidings and shunting engine. The huge chimney dominated the As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet: skyline, but due to a decline in trade was Oh! The last rays of feeling and life must depart, demolished in 1936. Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart. Ramblers Gems 3 Looks like more honey later in the year.Large An Evening Walk Craneflies better known as Daddy longlegs hover everywhere. It has been a long day but I need to get out by myself on an observational walk to see the sounds, the colours, the For the last section of my walk I decide to take the movement but above all to absorb Mother Nature’s use western path tonight. This is more commonly of natural light and then log it all in my memory as she known as the Red Route going past Western Red continues to shape the 3 dimensional distance and then Cedar, Norway Maple, Small Acers with some bounce it all back to be recorded on my eyes. having their roots kept in the shade by the red leather colour of the curled up Choke Cherry. So, tonight I will first head off down the eastern path. The whole area is highlighted with English Yew, After passing the lofty waving spires of the bamboo on Mountain Laurel and the Common Holly. At this the edge of the small pond, a group of frogs are easily time of the day the movement of the leaves together camouflaged, that’s if they don’t move quickly! They with the evening light make all the sections of the sit, watching the Hover Fly and the Blue Dragonfly, walk appear to be tumbling and dancing to get my licking their lips and they are full of hope.